The Jim Henson Foundation has provided a grant to help develop the new musical The Pigeon Boys, which will receive readings presented by the York Theatre Company later this month. The WWII drama follows the lives of three soldiers who come together during a mission in Italy.

The Pigeon Boys is written by Anne Berlin and Andrew Bleckner, with additional music by Quentin Chiappetta. As part of its Developmental Reading Series, York Theatre will present readings of the new musical Nov. 12-13, directed by Joe Barros with musical direction by Drew Wutke.

Parker Drown, Leo Ash Evens and Timothy Hassler will read the parts of the three pigeoneers.

With the aid of The Jim Henson Foundation, the puppets created for the developmental presentation were built and designed by Drama of Works Company members Emily Hartford, Gretchen Van Lente and Meghan Williams and will be operated by Julia Darden, Kelley Selznick and Stacey Weingarten.

Since 1982, the Foundation has made over 600 grants for the development of new works of contemporary American puppet theatre.

Here's how York Theatre bills the new show: "The Pigeon Boys tells the story of the forgotten pigeoneers of World War II, exploring the lives of three soldiers (American, British, and German), as they face the harsh realities of war. Their stories of love, hope, and fear come together during one fateful mission in the Italian hills of Monte Cassino and the relationships between these soldiers and birds reminds us all that sometimes the greatest humanity is found in other living creatures." To make a reservation for either reading, visit YorkTheatre.org/upcoming-readings.